It is 2015, the year of manifestos that few will remember even though these documents supposedly map the trajectory of political parties and should guide every individual's decision to support one party/candidate versus another.
More than any other election, 2015's manifestos are under the greatest threat of being subsumed in vitriol about conduct or misconduct that are already taking over every quiet thought you have, if you allow it.
Manifestos are traditionally a public declaration of intent, principles, policy, aims, etc, issued by a political party, government, or movement. In more modern scenarios, manifestos range from individual declaration to organisational affirmation.
Mine is a manifesto for a cause that is only a few well-thought-out recommendations. Its scope will be limited to the particular issue of mental illness and funding/care for T&T's mentally ill.
I've learned that what's different is almost always feared by those who have no knowledge of the difference. Mental health scares people, even those who have an issue/ illness and need intervention.
And, mental illness has long been the world's greatest beneficiary of discrimination, overtly by uninformed people and covertly by governments (made up of people also fearful and are ignorant).
In formulating this manifesto, I'm inviting input/support for my cause from local practitioners, families with mental health issues, policy makers or political party members. There have been a few groups (or maybe just social media constructs) recently and I also encourage you to participate.
But know this, I'm an alliance of one or as I declared previously, I am a POO–party of one–and since anyone can write a personal manifesto I'm writing one to challenge the next government to take opportunity to improve our nation's mental health, thereby improving the lives of hundred of thousands of Trinbagonians families living with mental illness.
For over ten years, I've been studying mental health research papers, position documents, country reports, and World Health Organization/ PAHO documents and more.
Living in T&T increases my anxiety because in so many areas there is very little sign of valid advancement in anything (apart from criminal activities) in keeping with global trends. Yet, we manage budgets that suggest we are wealthy.
Only last Sunday my heart sunk while reading Minister of Health, Dr Fuad Khan's expressed satisfaction in the results of the T&T Guardian's opinion poll conducted by UWI Ansa McAl Psychological Research Centre, on health delivery in T&T. The poll was said to be a nationwide survey to assess popular opinion on a number of major issues.
Regarding healthcare, almost 65 per cent of respondents (combination of 27 per cent "totally unsatisfied," and 38 per cent "unsatisfied,) were unhappy with the Government's management of healthcare. Saying there's room for improvement, Dr Khan is reported to be "happy with the 32 per cent that said the health care was being managed well."
And in usual election-speak the minister patted his back as he asked us to measure the growth of the health sector and find satisfaction, not in a reasonable improvement but entreated us to "look to see what it was before" a reference to previous administration of healthcare under other political regimes.
It's worrisome more, because usually that 65 per cent refers to general healthcare and if general dissatisfaction is so high in a country where mental wellbeing is only pappy showed when there's a United Nations observation, we are in trouble.
Meanwhile, reading the PAHO Latin America/Caribbean regions strategy and plan of action for mental health (2009) and its observations on major studies on mental health, the narrative is dismal.
Looking at the prevalence of mental illness for 20 years, the statistics show treatment gaps (the proportion of sick people who need care and do not receive it) are 59 per cent for major disorders, 71 per cent for alcohol abuse and dependence, 64 per cent for bipolar disorder, 63 per cent for anxiety disorder, 60 per cent for obsessive compulsive disorder, to name a few.
"More people are becoming more ill and are unable to access support when they most need it. Without a clear commitment to action, we will store up problems for the future, both in terms of our public finances and the lives of future generations (www.mentalhealth.org.uk)."
It's my hope that there's sufficient time to present statistics, scenarios and reasonable arguments to impact the main political players to edit/improve their manifestos before the election date comes flying out of a pocket.